I have wanted to post on my blog for so long now.....every night when the boys are finally in bed, I sit down at the computer and get ready to type and I just don't even know where to start. I am usually so tired and can't put my thoughts together to type out all that I have soaring through my mind. It has only been a couple of weeks now that I could actually truly pray. There was so much in my mind and heart, I couldn't even find the words to say to God. It is so hard to explain.....I am just so glad that He knows... In my devotions this morning I read a great quote, John Bunyan said, "It is better to have a heart without words, than words without heart."
So, I am not going to even try, at this point to re-cap our trip to Ethiopia....I will do this eventually. For now I am going to just focus on what is happening in the present, since we have been home. There are so many things that I don't want to forget.....and that is one of the main reasons I started this blog......so I would have a record of all the big and little things that happen in our lives.
In the middle of last week, Isaac mentioned to me that he thought Hailu was doing really well with his english. It is true.....it seems like all of a sudden he is talking so much more and is full of stories and is always trying to make us laugh. From the very first day we met him, he has been full of laughter. He LOVES to be silly and really loves it when we act silly! At least twice a day now, he will just bust out in laughter over something small, and he will just keep laughing until someone else joins in with him. Most of the time, he and Isaac will be cracking up, and I will ask what is so funny, and they will say "I don't know" and just keep laughing. I love hearing them getting along and having so much fun together. The only time this is not appealing to me is during school. Today for example, Hailu just wasn't in the mood for school and he was goofing around and saying silly things the whole time when I was trying to teach him. This was extremely frustrating, even to Isaac. Isaac just wanted to get his work done.....I had to keep correcting Hailu and this was slowing down his progress. I have gotten a good idea of what Hailu has learned and what he is capable of learning now, so starting next week, he will be under a strict school schedule. I think that is what he needs.....consistency and a strict schedule, in order for him to take school serious. In most areas he is at a 1st-2nd grade level which is awesome......the only thing that is making it hard is the language barrier.....I am not always sure if he truly doesn't understand what I am explaining to him, or if he just doesn't feel like doing what I am asking him to do.
In the middle of last week, Isaac mentioned to me that he thought Hailu was doing really well with his english. It is true.....it seems like all of a sudden he is talking so much more and is full of stories and is always trying to make us laugh. From the very first day we met him, he has been full of laughter. He LOVES to be silly and really loves it when we act silly! At least twice a day now, he will just bust out in laughter over something small, and he will just keep laughing until someone else joins in with him. Most of the time, he and Isaac will be cracking up, and I will ask what is so funny, and they will say "I don't know" and just keep laughing. I love hearing them getting along and having so much fun together. The only time this is not appealing to me is during school. Today for example, Hailu just wasn't in the mood for school and he was goofing around and saying silly things the whole time when I was trying to teach him. This was extremely frustrating, even to Isaac. Isaac just wanted to get his work done.....I had to keep correcting Hailu and this was slowing down his progress. I have gotten a good idea of what Hailu has learned and what he is capable of learning now, so starting next week, he will be under a strict school schedule. I think that is what he needs.....consistency and a strict schedule, in order for him to take school serious. In most areas he is at a 1st-2nd grade level which is awesome......the only thing that is making it hard is the language barrier.....I am not always sure if he truly doesn't understand what I am explaining to him, or if he just doesn't feel like doing what I am asking him to do.
There are some phrases in english that over the past few weeks he seems to really like to say. Sometimes it fits correctly to the situation, but sometimes it doesn't.....and then this is when we all start to laugh.....of course he loves that! He likes to say "He's OK" , "watch this", "what are you doing".....and today he must have called to me 7 or 8 times from another room in the house "MOM!!" then I say "Yes? or What?" and then he would say really slowly and with his cute little accent "How are you doing? " then I would answer him and ask how he was doing and then he just laughs and says "I am fine". Yesterday he started asking us what different words we say meant.....and he has been really interested in the books that I have been reading to him. I think that the language is beginning to become clear to him and now he is feeling comfortable trying it out and asking us more questions. To anyone that has been through this before, you know how fun and exciting this is to see the progress.
So much more to tell....this is just the most recent....I will get back on here soon and tell about the horrible doctor's visit, social issues, his talents and desire to serve others and help, his funny quirks etc...
So much more to tell....this is just the most recent....I will get back on here soon and tell about the horrible doctor's visit, social issues, his talents and desire to serve others and help, his funny quirks etc...
For now I am going to end it here....I am exhausted. I will finish off this post with a couple more photos and a video.......
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